Nigeria’s inflation rose for the third consecutive month to 15.93 percent in May 2026 from 15.69 percent recorded in April.

The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index and inflation data released on Monday.

This means that in May, the country’s inflation rose on a month-on-month basis by 1.75 percent.

Also, the report showed that food inflation also skyrocketed to 16.96 percent in May, up from 16.06 percent recorded the previous month.

“In May 2026, the headline inflation rate on a month-on-month basis was 1.75 percent, which was 0.39 percent lower than the rate recorded in April 2026 (2.13 percent).

On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate rose to 15.93 percent, up from 15.69 percent in April 2026 and down from 26.06 percent in the same month of the preceding year (May 2025).

“The Food inflation rate in May 2026 on a month-on-month basis was 2.98 percent, down by 0.65 percentage points from April 2026 (3.63 percent). On a year-on-year basis, it was 16.96 percent and stood at 24.55 percent in the same month of the preceding year, May 2025”.

Recall that the headline inflation rate dropped in March and April, respectively even as the Central Bank of Nigeria retained the country’s interest rate 26.50 percent in its 305th Monetary Policy meeting.

Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso has been announced as the deputy governorship candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, in Kano State.

Mustapha will be running alongside Aminu Gwarzo, who is the NDC governorship candidate.

Mustapha Kwankwaso is the first son of the NDC vice presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

This was confirmed by the Spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Habibu Saleh Mohammed, in a statement on Monday.

“HE Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo unveiled Hon Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate for the 2027 Governorship Election,” he said.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Ikechukwu, for allegedly importing shirts and towels laced with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine into Nigeria from Brazil.

The agency disclosed that the 41-year-old suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, upon his arrival from São Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 11.

According to a statement released on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of 14 towels and shirts soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and neatly ironed to conceal the illicit substance.

Babafemi said, “A 41-year-old São Paulo, Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for importing shirts and towels impregnated with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.

“Abugu was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Thursday, June 11, 2026. A thorough search of his luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well-ironed.”

He said the suspect reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he runs an African restaurant.

“The suspect claims he has lived for over 14 years in Brazil, where he runs an African restaurant. He added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy foodstuffs in bulk for his restaurant,” the statement read.

In a related development, the anti-narcotics agency arrested a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, and a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disabilities, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking in Abia and Rivers States.

Babafemi said Chidimma was apprehended with 1.8kg of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, and subsequently handed over to NDLEA operatives on June 10.

He added that Usman was arrested in the Rumuokoro area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with assorted illicit drugs, including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.

The agency also recorded major seizures across the country, including 304 kilograms of skunk intercepted in Kwara State, 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis recovered from a warehouse in Taraba State, and 1,102 kilograms of Ghana Loud seized around Alaba International Market in Lagos.

Commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised personnel of the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos and FCT commands for the arrests and seizures.

He noted that their successes in reducing drug supply were being matched with ongoing drug demand reduction and sensitisation activities, urging them to surpass their previous achievements.